Scope and arrangement
The Hazel Wallack papers (1905-1977) document Wallack's career as a dancer and dance teacher, as well as her relationship with Ted Shawn. The collection contains programs, promotional material, clippings, publications, letters, contracts, ephemera, photographs, and writings by Wallack.
Dance programs, promotional material, and publicity for Hazel Wallack and the Hazel Wallack Dancers date from 1905 to 1937. Programs span 1905 to 1937, but date primarily from 1908 to the 1910s. The collection also contains correspondence and contracts for bookings of Wallack and the Wallack Dancers, dating from 1916 to 1925. Publications include issues of The Child's Companion, a weekly newsletter published by Elitch's Gardens, dating from 1908 to 1910. The newsletters contain notices and articles about Wallack's classes and performances. A scrapbook holds clippings about Wallack from 1908 and 1909.
Photographs in the collection date from the 1910s to 1965, with the bulk dating to the 1910s. Photographs depict Wallack, her dancers, and Ted Shawn.
The collection contains Ted Shawn's letters to Wallack, dating from 1966 to 1971. Wallack's handwritten reminiscences, which are six pages long and were written in 1977, contain memories of her early career and her relationship with Ted Shawn.
The collection includes an undated copper printing block, with an image of Wallack. Researchers wishing to view the printing block should contact the Jerome Robbins Dance Division (dance@nypl.org) in advance to inquire about its availability.